Attachment for sewing machines



Mamh 18 194-1., VALENTENE ATTAfiHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed. Nov. 10, 1938 INVENTOR fisecv 1./ [474577/1/5 BY Arron EY Patented Mar. 18, 1941 bll'iE.

STATES r in c Application November 10, 1938, Serial No. 239,743

14 Claims.

This invention relates to attachments for sewing machines and particularly machines employed for sewing the soles of shoes to the uppers, and the object of the: invention is to provide a attachment of the character described which is so constructed as to facilitate stitching of the upper to the sole or to an integral welt or welt lip while the sole is supported perpendicularly to the welt or welt lip thus rendering the stitching operation at the inner surface of the welt lip visible to the operator; a further object being to provide means for yieldably supporting the welt lip and sole adjacent the presser-foot and in utilizing a presser-foot shaped to spread the welt lip with respect to the sole and support the same in the spread or extended position so that the welt lip is arranged substantially horizontally while the sole is disposed vertically; a still further object being .to provide means for operative E connection with the presser-foot cooperating with the welt lip support to maintain substantially constant engagement of the support and presserfoot with the Work-pieces during the stitching operation; and with these and other objects in 6 the invention consists in an attachment of the class and for the purpose specified which is simple in construction, eiiicient in use, and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

30 The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. l is a plan View of an attachment made according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a View looking in the direction 22 of Fig. 1, with part of the construction broken 40 away,

Fig. 3 is a side view of a part of the construction shown in Fig. l and diagrammatically indicating the sole and upper arranged in position.

Fig. l is a partial section on the line 4-4 of 4. Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a slight modification; and,

Fig. 6 is a detail view of a part of the structure shown in Fig. 5.

50 The attachment herein shown,- described, and

claimed, constitutes an improvement on the attachments disclosed in Patent #1134910, dated October 25, 1938, and in the application of Alexander Soltan, Serial No. 227,957, filed September 55 1, 1938, in which patent and application, I am the sole assignee. In the present application such parts or mechanisms as are old and well known in the disclosures of the aforesaid patent and application for patent are only referred to generally; whereas. the improved structural features of the attachment are dealt with in detail. In this connection it will also be understood that a suitable bracket, commonly known in the art, will be used for supporting the attachment in connection with the machine. 10

In the accompanying drawing, the attachment consists of a main stock or body portion iii having a reduced rearwardly extended supporting plate it, the side walls of the body it having projecting V-shaped flanges it for keying the same to a suitable supporting bracket. A supplemental block it is adjustably supported on the end it of the block or body H). In this supplemental block is supported a rocker shaft l4 adjustable longitudinally of the block through the medium of adjustment and lock screws l5. The shaft has at the forward end thereof an offset supporting plate 56 in connection with which a hook-shaped workpiece supporting arm I1 is adjustably and resiliently supported. The arm ll is provided with a shaft portion i3 arranged in a laterally extending bar it on a supplemental plate til; said supplemental plate being tensionally retained upon the plate It by a conical spring 2!, the tension of which is controlled by an adjustable milled nut 22 on a stud 23 secured to the plate it. The plates it and 2B are further keyed together in the normal position thereof through a pin and aperture structure as indicated at M in Fig. 4 of the drawing so as to maintain alinement of said plates.

The shaft it of the hook-shaped arm I! extends beyond the inner end of the bearing l9; and arranged thereon is a spring 215 cooperating with a block 2% adjustable on the shaft to control tensional engagement of the curved or rounded end Ila of the arm ll upon the workpieces in the manner indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawing. Pivoted to the supplemental plate 20 as at 21 is an operating lever Bil which is also pivoted to the block '26 so that the arm ll may be moved out of engagement wtih workpieces at will by the manual operation of the lever 28. It will also be apparent that the arm including the plate 5Q 20 may be swung vertically against the action of the spring 2! and then moved laterally on the pin or stud to move the arm out of engagement with the workpieces whenever desired.

It will be understood that the pin or aperture Cal coupling as at 24 is disengaged in this operation.

It will also be apparent that the entire unit consisting of the main plate l6 may be swung on the shaft H1 in addition to the other independent movements of the hook-shaped arm 11. It will be understood that the arm I! Where it joins the shaft end l8 thereof is substantially V-shaped in form as viewed from the side as indicated at 17b in Fig. 4 of the. drawing. This contour of the arm is provided to permit free movement of the workpieces over the arm in the operation of stitching the same as will be apparent. An adjustable stop screw'29 is provided to adjust the rotary swinging movement of the arm IT to gag-e the position of the rounded end i'ia thereof with respect to the workpieces in order to provide the most desirable support of the workpieces adjacent the presser-foot and other workpiece supports later described.

The structure above described is much the same as that illustrated in the application heretofore identified; the principal diiierence residing in the fact that the hook-shaped arm H extends beneath the workpieces rather than above the workpieces, as in the earlier application, so as to compensate for the open or visible stitching of the workpieces instead of the inverted or concealed stitching as taught in the patent and ap plication for patent above referred to.

The outer end of the block I is provided with a beveled or otherwise shaped workpiece stop or support 33 adjacent and beneath which is a further workpiece guide and support 3|, including a plate Sta, which may be adjustably supported upon the lower surface of the block I0 through the medium of screws 32. Adjacent the parts 30, iii, is a welt or welt lip supporting element 33 which is pivotally supported in connection with the plate 3la as seen at 34, note Fig. 4. A flat spring 35 is employed to maintain the outer end of the support 33 in the position shown in Fig. 4 whereas means is provided in the form of a pin 3% operating upon a coil spring 31 for raising the outer end of the support 33 to compensate for vertical movement of a presser-foot device 38 in the operation of the machine.

The pin 36 is depressed by an arm 39 coupled with the presser-foot 38 or with the shaft supporting said presser-foot as the case may be. In other words, in the downward movement of the presser-foot device 38 in engaging the welt lip 4d of a shoe sole 4| including that part of the upper 62 disposed thereon, the support 33 will be raised and tensionally supported upon the lower surface of the welt lip 40 including the part of the upper 42 arranged thereon in the operation of stitching. It will be understood that the inner end 33a of the support 33 is capable of movement into engagement with the surface of the body it to act as a stop. In this connection, it will also be understood that the surface 30 including the associated beveled surface 30a, note Fig. 2, as well as the part 3|, aid in supporting the workpiece parts in proper position in the stitching operation thereof permitting the welt lip or flange it] to be opened substantially in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3 and supported in the open. position in the stitching operation.

The presser-foot device 38 is preferably hookshaped in form to give clearance for the needle of the machine as is indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the lower end of the device having a foot proper 4-3 so shaped as to act as a spreader upon the lip or flange 40 and support the same in open position as is illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing. The foot has a V-shaped notch 44 in a curved front surface 45 for the reception of the needle.

It will be understood that the outer surface 46 of the beveled and grooved portion of the foot serves to engage the surface of the sole 4| adjacent the lip and to support the sole including the upper between the same and the rounded surface Ha of the adjustable guide and Workpiece support. This forms what might be termed a three-point support of the workpiece between the foot 43, the support 33, and the support l'la.

In this connection it will be understood that different types of presser-foots will be used in connection with different types of workpieces; that is to say, where the structure of the welt lip varies on different workpieces. The presserfoot will be made larger or smaller or of such contour as to fit properly within the lip in spreading and supporting the same in the spread or open position during the stitching operation. I may also provide other means to assist the foot in this operation. For example in Figs. and 6 of the drawing, I have shown a presser-foot device 3811, the foot proper 43a of which has a beveled edge roller 41 pivotally supported thereon so as to enter the corner of the welt lip where it joins the sole to insure a full opening of the lip and otherwise aiding in the support of the lip in open position during the stitching operation. Otherwise the structure in Figs. 5 and 6 is the same as that shown in the other figures.

In performing the stitching operation with an attachment made according to my invention, it will be understood that the sole and upper may be collectively fed into and through the stitching machine without pre-attaching or coupling said parts in any way. On the other hand, the edge of the upper may be cemented to the welt lip prior to the stitching operation not only to aid in holding the parts together during the stitching operation but also to provide a seal between the parts. It is of course understood that the stitching operation is performed with the upper arranged in inverted position upon the sole. The distinct advantage in the present attachment resides in the fact that the workpieces may be more conveniently handled and the stitching operation becomes more visible to the operator.

It will also be apparent that the use of the lateral and vertically swinging movements contributed to the workpiece guide I! is not absolutely essential in the present construction. The only essential or desirable feature is the provision of the adjustment thereof toward and from, vertically, as well as laterally with respect to the presser-foot to properly engage the workpieces between the same and the presser-foot to compensate for workpieces of different thicknesses or other characteristics.

It will be understood that while for purposes of illustration I have shown in the accompanying drawing a sole of predetermined construction at the peripheral edge thereof, especially associated with the welt lip, that any particular type and kind of grooved, channeled, shouldered, beveled, or feathered marginal edge construction, such as commonly known in the art, may be employed depending entirely upon the requirements in the shoe or other footwear to be formed. It will be understood that the stitching operation to be performed by my improved attachment may be made onthe ore-lasted shoe or with the shoe on the last.

It will, of course, be apparent that various types and kinds of footwear may be stitched with my improved attachment and in all cases it will also appear that the operator has no devices interfering with the feed of the workpieces through the attachment. In this connection it will also be apparent that the attachment lends itself to the attachment of trimmings of various kinds and classes to the footwear in that free access is provided for the introduction of such trimmings and without interference with any of the operative parts of the attachment.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An attachment for sewing machines of the class described for use in stitching an upper to the welt lip of a shoe sole, said attachment comprising a movable member for engaging and supporting the welt lip, a presser-foot arranged above and movable toward and from said memher and having a foot end fashioned to form a spreader for extending the welt lip from the sole, said member being arranged adjacent the presserfoot whereby the welt lip is supported between said member and foot, and means adjustable with respect to said member and foot for supporting the sole in an upright substantially perpendicular position with respect to said welt lip in the operation of stitching the same.

2. An attachment for sewing machines of the class described for use in stitching an upper to the welt lipof a shoe sole, said attachment comprising a movable member for engaging and supporting the welt lip, a presser-foot arranged above and movable toward and from said member and having a foot end fashioned to form a spreader for extending the welt lip from the sole, said member being arranged adjacent the presserfoot whereby the welt lip is supported between said member and foot, means adjustable with respect to said member and foot for supporting the sole in an upright substantially perpendicular position with respect to said welt lip in the operation of stitching the same, and said member being resiliently supported.

3. An attachment for sewing machines of the class described for use in stitching an upper to the welt lip of a shoe sole, said attachment comprising a movable member for engaging and supporting the welt lip, a presser-foot arranged above and movable toward and from said member and having a, foot end fashioned to form a spreader for extending the welt lip from; the sole, said member being arranged adjacent the presser-foot whereby the welt lip is supported between said member and foot, means adjustable with respect to said member and foot for supporting the sole in an upright substantially perpendicular position with respect'to said welt lip in the operation of stitching the same, said member being resiliently supported, and means placing said presser-ioot and member in operative engagement to maintain firm engagement of the member and foot with the welt lip in the stitching operation.

l. An attachment for sewing machines of the class described for use in stitching an upper to the Welt lip of a shoe sole, said attachment com.- prising a movable member for engaging and supporting the welt lip, a presser-foot having a foot end fashioned to form a spreader for extending the welt lip from the sole, said member being arranged adjacent the presser-foot whereby the welt lip is supported between said member and foot, means adjustable with respect to said member and foot for supporting the sole in an upright substantially perpendicular position with respect to said welt lip in the operation of stitching the same, said member being resiliently supported, means placing said presser-foot and member in operative engagement to maintain firm engagement of the member and foot with the welt lip in the stitching operation, and other means for guiding the sole and upper parts adjacent said presser-foot.

5. An attachment for sewing machines of the class described for use in stitching an upper to the welt lip of a shoe sole, said attachment comprising a movable member for engaging and supporting the welt lip, a presser-foot having a foot end fashioned to form a spreader for extending the welt lip from the sole, said member being arranged adjacent the presser-foot whereby the welt lip is supported between said member and foot, means adjustable with respect to said mem her and foot for supporting the sole in an upright substantially perpendicular position with respect to said welt lip in the operation of stitching the same, said member being resiliently supported, means placing said presser-foot and member in operative engagement to maintain firm engagemerit of the member and foot with the welt lip in the stitching operation, said adjustable means comprising a hook-shaped arm having a rounded end arranged adjacent the presser-foot, and means for adjusting the arm to move the rounded end thereof vertically, laterally, and toward and from said foot.

6. An attachment for sewing machines of the class described for use in stitching an upper to the welt lip of a shoe sole, said attachment comprising a movable member for engaging and supporting the welt lip, a presser-foot having a foot end fashioned to form a spreader for extending the welt lip from the sole, said member being arranged adjacent the presser-foot whereby the welt lip is supported between said member and foot, means adjustable with respect to said member and foot for supporting the sole in an up-- right substantially perpendicular position with respect to said welt lip in the operation of stitching the same, said member being resiliently supported, means placing said presser-ioot and member in operative engagement to maintain firm engagement of the member and foot with the welt lip in the stitching operation, said adjustable means comprising a hook-shaped arm having a rounded end arranged adjacent the presser-foot, means for adjusting the arm to move the rounded end thereof vertically, laterally, and toward and from said foot, and other means providing free swinging movement of said arm.

7. An attachment for sewing machines of the class described for use in stitching an upper to the welt lip of a shoe sole, said attachment comprising a movable member for engaging and supporting the welt lip, a presser-foot having a foot end fashioned to form a spreader for extending the welt lip from the sole, said member being arranged adjacent the presser-foot whereby the Welt lip is supported between said member and foot, means adjustable with respect to said member and foot for supporting the sole in an upright substantially perpendicular position with respect to said welt lip in the operation of stitching the same, said member being resiliently supported, means placing said presser-foot and member in operative engagement to maintain firm engagement of the member and foot with the welt lip in the stitching operation, said adjustable means comprising a hook-shaped arm having a rounded end arranged adjacent the presser-foot, means for adjusting the arm to move the rounded end thereof vertically, laterally, and toward and from said foot, tensional means for normally supporting the arm in adjusted position with respect to the presser-foot, and manually actuated means for moving the arm away from the foot in the operation of attaching and detaching the sole and upper.

8. An attachment for sewing machines of the class described for use in stitching an upper to the Welt lip of a shoe sole, said attachment having means adjacent the outer surface of the welt lip for supporting and gaging the position thereof in the attachment, a presser-foot having a foot 'end shaped to form a spreader to engage and open the Welt lip in supporting the same upon said first named means, means outwardly of the first named means and the presser-foot for engaging the shoe sole adjacent the welt lip edge thereof to support the sole substantially perpendicular to said Welt lip, all of said supporting means being freely accessible in the direction of the presser-foot to provide free access and movement of the workpiece or shoe sole through the attachment and to render the stitching upon the inner surface of the welt lip visible to the operator, one of said first named means comprising a resiliently supported and operated member, and means placing said member in operative engagement with the presser-foot to maintain constant engagement of the member and foot with the Welt lip in the stitching operation.

9. In a sewing machine attachment of the class described, in combination With two movable workpiece supports, one adjustable toward and from the other, of a combination presser-foot and spreader engaging and spreading a part of the workpiece to retain the same upon one of Said movable supports and to maintain substantially perpendicular arrangement of the workpiece with respect to the spread portion thereof between said presser-foot and the other of said supports, said first named support being yieldably movable in the direction. of the presser-foot, and means placing said first named support in operative engagement with the presser-foot.

10. In a sewing machine attachment of the class described, in combination with two movable workpiece supports, one adjustable toward and from the other, of a combination presser-foot and spreader engaging and spreading a part of the workpiece to retain the same upon one of said movable supports and to maintain substantially perpendicular arrangement of the workpiece with respect to the spread portion thereof between said presser-foot and the other of said supports, said first named support being yieldably movable in the direction of the presser-foot, means placing said first named support in operative engagement with the presser-foot, said second named support being universally adjustable with respect to the presser-foot, and said support comprising a hookshaped arm having a V-shaped portion arranged below the workpiece in the operation of stitching the same.

11. In a sewing machine attachment of the class described, in combination with two movable workpiece supports, one adjustable toward and from the other, of a combination presser-foot and spreader engaging and spreading a part of the workpiece to retain the same upon one of said movable supports and to maintain substantially perpendicular arrangement of the workpiece with respect to the spread portion thereof between said presser-foot and the other of said supports, said first named support being yieldably movable in the direction of the presser-foot, means placing said first named support in operative engagement with the presser-foot, said second named support being universally adjustable with respect to the presser-foot, said support comprising a hook-shaped arm having a V-shaped portion arranged below the workpiece in the operation of stitching the same, means tensionally moving the second named support in engagement with the workpiece and manually actuated means for releasing said support against action of said tensional means placing the workpiece in the attachment and removing the same therefrom.

12. In a sewing machine attachment of the class described, the combination with two movable workpiece supports, one adjustable toward and from the other, of a unitary elongated member forming a combined presser-foot and spreader for said attachment, said member having an end for substantial bearing engagement with a spread flange portion of a workpiece in retaining said spread portion against one of said movable supports, a side portion of said member adjacent said end thereof being adapted to retain the workpiece proper against the other of said supports, and said end and side portion being disposed to provide substantially perpendicular arrangement of the workpiece and the spread portion thereof when engaged by said member.

13. An attachment for sewing machines of the class described, for use in stitching an upper to the welt lip of a shoe sole, said attachment having yieldable supporting means cooperating with the outer surface of the welt lip for supporting and gaging the position thereof in the attachment, a p resser-foot having an end for substantial bearing engagement with the lip and a rotatable disc carried by said end for engaging the sole adjacent said welt lip, the periphery of said disc being bevelled to extend into and closely engage the corner between said welt lip and sole, means outwardly of the first-named means and the presserfoot for engaging the shoe sole adjacent the welt lip edge thereof to support the sole substantially perpendicular to said welt lip, all of said supporting means being freely accessible in the direction of the presser-foot to provide free access and movement of the workpiece or shoe sole through the attachment and to render the stitching upon the inner surface of the welt lip visible to the operator.

14. In a sewing machine attachment of the class described, the combination with relatively movable and adjustable workpiece supports of a combination presser-foot and spreader for spreading a lip or flange portion of a workpiece in the operation of stitching the same, said presser-foot having an end for substantial bearing engagement with the lip, and a rotatable disc carried by such end for engaging the workpiece adjacent said lip, said disc having a beveled periphery and the bevelled periphery of said disc conforming to the corner formed between said workpiece and lip to aid in supporting said lip or flange in extended or spread position.

PERCY W. VALENTINE. 

